The moment I walked into WODCelona I felt an incredible energy. The Mediterranean backdrop set the tone. The sun was shining, the music was on point, and the sponsor stands were buzzing with smiling staff leading challenges, handing out free protein snacks and even offering flash tattoos.
And the crowd?! WOW the crowd😍. Athletes and coaches parading their sweaty, sculpted bodies with confidence, hanging out with families and friends— such a warm and welcoming vibe. It felt like a mix of fitness theme park and paradise.
Why WODCELONA?
This competition is special in so many ways. First, it’s a charity event bringing together athletes from all over the world, all levels and divisions, including Adaptive and 60+. The diversity and inclusion is real.
“WODCelona has a unique atmosphere because it’s a truly inclusive competition,” said Coach Andrea Pellegrine.
And then there’s Barcelona itself — the outdoor venue with a sea view is just unbeatable. From the second you walk in you feel WODCelona’s identity: inclusion, sun, beach and fitness.
Competition, Venue & Equipment
The fourth edition of the competition happened at the Forum de Barcelona, about 6 km from the center, easy to reach by public transport and even by bike. The organization also made partnerships with hotels and travel agencies, offering discounts on accommodation and city attractions for athletes and their teams.
The registration fee ranged from €35 to €360, with more than 1,500 athletes from all over the world participating — Europe, Latin America and even the U.S. Many adaptive athletes too, even with the Adaptive CrossFit Games happening on the same date.
All racks, cages, barbells and plates were brand new from Ruster, and the erg and cardio machines were also new and of excellent quality. The warm-up area had everything the athletes needed for each workout — ropes, wall balls, dumbbells and even Picsil chalk buckets.
But an outdoor event of this size is also vulnerable to the weather. Heavy rain on Saturday shut everything down for about three hours. Some workouts were canceled or postponed to Sunday. There just weren’t enough sheltered spots for athletes or spectators, and complaints were everywhere. Some even considered abandoning the competition. Volunteers ran around covering equipment, doing their best. When the rain eased off, everything was uncovered and the event restarted.
Some of the cardio machines on the stages were slightly damaged by being exposed to sun and rain, and failed during some workouts. Adaptive athlete Débora Roque told me her SkiErg stopped working several times during the event, making her lose precious seconds: “It lacked pre-workout inspection.” She also mentioned some unevenness in the flooring, which for a wheelchair user can be dangerous.
On Sunday the sun was very hot and some treadmills stopped working — luckily before the Hybrid category workout. The volunteer team quickly solved the problem after about 20 minutes, but athletes had to wait under the sun.
Organization & Logistics
Everything ran through the Circle 21 app — registration, info, leaderboard, even direct chat with the organizers. Athlete Bruno Uemura said: “Of all the CrossFit competitions I’ve been to, this was the app that posted results the fastest.”
Except for the rain-related reshuffle on Saturday, the schedule was respected. Briefings, warm-ups, workouts — all synced to push notifications and emails. It really worked.
Workouts, Staff & Standards
The workouts were very well balanced — three days, six workouts per athlete/team, each sponsored by a different brand. The star? Sandbag burpee over the trunk — creative, original and a crowd-pleaser, especially at night on the Nike Metcon stage under DJ lights. It was a spectacle.
“The workouts were great — challenging at the ideal level,” said Bruno Uemura, Team RX.
Elite athlete Amanda Fusuma added, “I loved every single one.”
Adaptive athlete Débora Roque thought her division could have been pushed more.
Hybrid Challenge
For the first time, WODCelona introduced the Hybrid Challenge — a mix of functional conditioning (CrossFit-style), running/resistance, and fixed exercise stations. I definitely felt a hint of Hyrox.
Briefings & Flow
The briefing happened next to the warm-up area. After the staff explained the whole workout and answered all athlete questions, everyone queued, checked in for that specific workout and then went to the warm-up area. All times were also communicated in the app. I watched this process closely and it ran very smoothly and was well organized.
Staff & Judging
The staff team was very kind and always willing to help. The administration tent was accessible to everyone. Many athletes went personally to talk to the organization, which was very receptive and always ready to help.
Judges — historically judges are always judged (irony!) — and at WODCelona it wasn’t different. There were many complaints and this was a critical aspect of the competition. Many athletes complained about lack of information, alignment and fairness.
I watched closely the staff team working at a frantic pace behind the scenes — reviewing videos, calling judges to discuss specific cases, correcting scores and responding to all athlete questions through the Circle 21 app chat, trying to solve everything quickly and as correctly and fairly as possible. The effort was obvious, but judging remains a challenge at an event this size.
The volunteer team was large. On Friday the team was a bit thin and it was hectic, but Saturday and Sunday all stations were extra-covered by an army of people in white shirts, full of smiles. Not all spoke English — I saw some communication difficulties — but nothing too serious; there was always someone around willing to help.
Atmosphere & Community
The atmosphere was incredible and unique, with many things happening at the same time. In addition to the two main stages — Metcon Nike and Maxi Nutrition — and the Hybrid category track, sponsor stands also showcased products and held various activities for the fitness public: challenges with prizes, product trials and tastings. Big brands like Picsil and Velites invested in large stands and smiling teams ready to help.
The music never stopped, not even during the rain. Each stage had its own DJ and announcer, and the sound didn’t clash.
There was a small covered rest area, not enough for all athletes. Many complained about not having a place to sit. In this same area there were also interviews with some athletes and coaches.
The community spirit was contagious. Besides families and friends cheering up close for the athletes, the athletes themselves were cheering for their competitors. I lost count of how many heats ended with every competitor circling the last athlete, pushing them to finish under the time cap. Goosebumps.
Overall Impression
On Sunday, watching the final workouts of the Adaptive and Elite divisions, I felt a mix of victory and nostalgia. Three-day marathon of workouts, sweat and celebration coming to an end — and already missing it.
WODCelona is truly special: inclusive, by the sea, in one of the world’s coolest cities, and for a good cause. Judge Karin summed it up for me:“This is my fourth year at WODCelona, and as long as it’s here, I’ll be here.”
Same here. I’ll be back in 2026 — and if you want a competition that combines fitness, sun, community and inclusion, put WODCelona on your list.
| Category | Rating (★ 1–5) | Highlights / Notes |
| Organization & Logistics | ★★★★☆ | Circle 21 app excellent; rain contingency lacking |
| Workouts & Programming | ★★★★☆ | Creative, balanced, hybrid challenge debut |
| Venue & Equipment | ★★★☆☆ | Stunning location, but weather exposed weaknesses |
| Judging & Standards | ★★★☆☆ | Staff responsive but consistency issues |
| Atmosphere & Community | ★★★★★ | Unmatched vibe, supportive crowd, big brands |
💌 Did you go to WODCelona or are you thinking about competing next year? Drop me a message — I’d love to hear your experience, your tips or even your questions about the event!
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Stronger, Healthier, Anywhere. 
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